The Republic of Ireland Women's Under-19s began their UEFA Women's European Under-19 Championship Elite Round yesterday with a 4-0 win over Hungary in Spain. There were three Galway WFC players on this Ireland starting team Rachel Baynes, Lucia Lomboto and Sadhbh Doyle, as well as Heather Payne from Ballinasloe who plays professionally in England. Another Galway WFC player Chloe Stapleton was introduced as a substitute, while Sinead Donovan and Keyla Brady are also involved in the twenty-strong squad, who are next in action on Saturday against Serbia.
Dave Connell’s side struggled for chances in the opening
The WNT international stepped up to the penalty spot to give Ireland
the lead by sending goalkeeper Anna Terestyenyi the wrong way.
Ireland’s lead doubled six minutes later. Lucia Lobato cut in from
the left wing, and her cross caused havoc in the six-yard box, with
Terestyenyi and Rahel Varadi both struggling to keep it out of the net,
before Varadi inadvertently hit it in.
The three points were all assured with just over 20 minutes left on
the clock. Niamh Reynolds’ cross was dropped by Terestyenyi and Payne
converted from close range.
As the clock entered added-time, substitute Carla McManus took advantage of some sloppy Hungarian defending to score from inside the area. Ireland return to Elite Round action on Saturday afternoon against Serbia.
Republic of Ireland: Rachael Kelly; Rachel Baynes (Aoife Slattery 64), Sadhbh Doyle, Roisin McGovern, Lucia Lobato; Megan Mackey (capt), Tiegan Ruddy (Carla McManus 80), Niamh Reynolds; Heather Payne, Alannah McEvoy (Chloe Singleton 80), Michelle O’Driscoll (Kelly Brady 55).
Hungary: Anna
Terestyenyi; Antonia Andre (Viktoria Bodai 46), Rahel Varadi, Laura
Kovacs (capt), Alexandra Gyorik; Virag Nagy, Lily Farkas (Vivien
Pintyre 71), Eszter Kovacs; Sara Pusztai, Brigitta Pulins, Fanni
Vachter (Dora Dorner 71).
Referee: Graziella Pirriatore (ITA).
